Multiple position elevating cot



Nov. 8, 1960 R. H. FERNE/xu 2,958,873

MULTIPLE POSITION ELEVATING COT Filed Feb. l1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FImL ly 26'!! BY Bag' /M//Zm ATTO l? N EYS.

Nov. 8, 1960 Filed Feb. ll. 1959 R. H. FERNEAU MULTIPLE POSITION ELEVATING COT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR. lr/Mea )iff/venu,

ATTORNEYS.

United Safes Patenti@ MULTIPLE POSITION ELEVATING COT Richard H. Ferneau, Washington Court House, Ohio (6th and Pine Sts., Greenfield, Ohio) Filed Feb. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 792,509

14 Claims. (Cl. 5-86) 2,958,873 Patented Nov. 8,

ics

to provide a safety factor eliminating the possibility of the cot accidentally dropping the patient.

The foregoing together with other objects of the invention which will appear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. v

Y Reference is now'made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

p Figure l is a plan view of a cot frame illustrating the manner in which the cross-forming frame members are secured thereto. Y

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line2-2 of Figure l, the cot structure being illustrated in fully extended position (solid lines) and in fully collapsed positiontdotted lines).

In recent years the conventional stretcher-like amb'ui lance -cot has given way to an elevating type cotw wherein the'cot frame is mounted to a wheeled undercarriage by means of collapsible legs, the cot having a iirst or down position in which the legs are collapsed so that the cot may be placed in the ambulance and an elevated or up v. ,l position in which the cot frame is at hospital bed or opcri ating ltable height for readily transferring the patient to or from the cot. An elevating cot requires far less heavy lifting on the part of the attendants, -results in less d anger of crippling strain andV far less chance of jarring or even dropping a patient during transfer. However, such elevating cots have only two positions of use, i.e. the down or ambulance position and the up or full height position, with the result that many situations are encountered wherein the cot frame cannot be brought into proper alignment for direct transfer ofthe patient. For example, lthe ordinary home bed is substantially lower than a hospital bed and yet is substantially higher than the down position of the collapsed` cot. Consequently, the patient must either be raised or lowered in being transferred from one to the other. varies greatly so that there is no standard intermediate adjustment which would be suitable for all of them. Similar observation may be made with respect to operating tables, examination tables and the like.r

' It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an elevating cot which may be selectively raised and lowered -to a plurality of intermediate positions of use between its down and full up positions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a portable cot structure of the character describedwhich may be quickly and easily adjusted to desired height and, once adjusted, the parts locked in the selected position until such time as the mechanism is released for movement to another position.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a multiple position elevation cot in which the cot frame or bed is supported on and elevatedv by cross-forming or scissors-like frame members which are pivoted together and secured at their lower ends to an undercarriage having sets of wheels, the parts being so arranged that the wheel base of the undercarriage will remain constant irrespective of the movement of the cross-forming frame members, thereby providing maximum maneuverability and at the same time assuring that the carriage will be Furthermore, the height of home beds AFigure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3*-3 of Figure 2 illustrating the undercarriage and the manner in which the cross-forming frame members aresecured thereto. j 'j Figurev 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating the primary locking means in released or unlocked position. Y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the telescoping end of the undercarriage in extended position. n Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the posi'- tions of both the primary and secondary locking means when the cot is in fully collapsed position. Figure 7 is a plan view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a` modifedgcot structure incorporating an alternateforrnl of locking means. Y yFigure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-'8 o f Figure 7. g

Referring 'first to Figure 1, I have therein illustrated a cot-frame1which is of generally rectangular shape and provided with suitable mattress supporting straps 2 extending between opposed sides of the frame. The cot frame is preferably formed from -aluminum tubing, al-l though lfrom the outset it should be understood that the construction of the cot frame as such does Vnot constitute a limitation of my invention and any standard framern-ay be employed, inclusive of frames havingappurtenanees such as a supplementary head elevating frame, side rails,l footrests and the like. For clarity of illustration `the I cot frame has been shown in its basic rectangular-form.

v- A pair of fittings 4 and 5 are secured to the opposite sides of the frame 1, preferably toward the head end of 'the frame, the fittings mounting a horizontally disposed rod 6 which extends between the fittings and lies below 4 the plane of cot frame 1. Sleeve-like fittings 7 and 8 surround the rod 6 adjacent each side of the frame,` the littings mounting sockets 9 and 10 which receive the upper ends of cross-forming frame members 11'and 12. At their lower ends, the frame members 11 and 12 are received in socket parts 13 and 14 of fittings having sleeve portions 15 and 16 rotatably mounted on a :tubular frame member 17 yforming an extension of the undercarriage now to-be described.v As'best'seen in Figure 3, the undercarriage comprises a generally rectangular frame composed of side fir-ame p'roperly valigned with the cot fasteners in the ambulance. I.

' Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of an elevating cot structure having readily accessible manually actuated release means for the frame locking mechanism which, in one form of the invention, cooperates with automatically acting `secondary locking' means members 18 and 19 connected together at one end by an end'frame member 20, suitable corner joints 21 and-22 connecting the side and end frame members together and also serving to mount casterwheels 23 and 24. At the-ir opposite ends the side frame members 18 and 19 are pro? vided with T-shaped fittings 25'and 26 rwhich receivean end frame member 27. The fittings 25 and 26 alsomount: caster-wheels 28 and 29. f Thejsideframe'members 18and 19 are tubular, asgareJ theipcrtions Ot fittings 25 and 26 which rsvatheisl 3 of side frame members, and telescopng frame members 30 and 31 are adapted to be telescopically received by the side frame members. At their outer ends the telescoping frame members 30 and 31 -carrycorner 'joints 3,2 and 33 which receive the ends of the tubular frameY member ..17 which, as already pointed out, mounts thefttings which receive the :lower ends of the-cross-forming framemembers .11 and 12. With this arrangement, the :length of the undercarriage may be effectively increased-by'moving the frame 17 outwardly with respect to `end frame member 27, the parts being movable from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to the position villustrated in Figure 5. Yet the arrangement is such that the wheels are mounted .onrthe fixed end framemembers 20 and .27.

Coacting cross-forming framev members 11a andlZa are pivotally connected to the cross-forming frame members 11 and 12 intermediate theirends at the pivot points 411b and 12b, respectively, the coacting pairs of frame members 11, 11a and 12, 12a forming'scissors-like `elevating supports for the cot frame. The cross-forming frame members 11a and 12a are received Aat their lower ends in fittings 34 and 35 pivotally mountedon fixed end frame member 20. At their upper ends the frame members 11a and 12a are received in fittings 36 and 37 mounted on rod 38 the opposite ends of which project beyond .the fittings and ride in elongated slots 39 of bracket members 40 kand 41 secured to the side rails of the cot frame 1 adjacent the foot end thereof,:as can vbe best seen in Figures l and 2.

It should now be apparent that `as the cot frame 1 4is elevated relative to the undercarriage the corresponding ends of the coacting cross-forming frame members 7will move toward each other, the lrod 38 Ion the upper ends of frame members 11a -and 12a sliding inwardly in the slots 39, and the lower ends of frame member 11 and 12 moving inwardly with adjustable end frame member `17 as the telescoping frame members 30 and 31 slide withintheside frame members 1'8 and 19 of the undercarriage.

In this embodiment of the invention the position of the cot is controlled by a primary Vlocking device inthe form of ratchet arms 42 and 43 which are pivotally connected at their outer ends to frame member 17, the ratchet arms being connected together at their inner ends -by means of a connecting member 44. The arms 42 Vand 43 are each provided on their under surface with a row of large teeth 45 arranged to selectively engage end frame member 27- of the undercarriage. If desired, the locking arms may be spring biased toward the frame member 27 so that the teeth will be urged into engagement with the frame member. When it is desired to alter the position of the cot frame, i.e. raise or lower it, the attendant moves control handle 46 (Figures l and 2) outwardly, thereby pushing axially on control rod 47 connected at Vits lower endto a finger 48 which, as -best seen in Figure A4, may be conveniently formed as an integral part of the ratchet arm 42. The axial movement of rod 47 causes the ratchet arms to pivot about the frame member 17 in a clockwise direction, thereby raising the teeth out of contact with the frame member 27, whereupon the cot frame may be raised or lowered as desired. Preferably, the ratchet'teeth will be pitched in one direction, their direction of pitch being such that the cot may be lifted from a lower lto a higher position without having to actuate the hand release. Thus, as should be clear from Figures 4 and 6, the pitch of theteeth will permit them to ride over the frame member 27 as the ends of the coacting cross-forming frame members are moved toward each other. The pitch of the teeth is such that on their opposite sides they are under cut, which necessitates a slight raising of the cot iframe before the hand release can be activated to raise the ratchet arms. '-Ihus, should the control handle beaccidentally pulled While the patient is lying on the cot, the ratchet arms will not be released so as to drop the patient. It will be evident, however, that a slight raising of the cotframe yWill-'cause sutlcicnt inward movement of the ratchet arms to free the upon the hand release may be actuated to raise the `ratchet arms.

I have, however, found it desirable to make the innermost tooth on each ratchet arm of square character, such tooth being indicated at 45a, so that when the cot is in the lowermost position, the hand release must be activated before the cot frame can be elevated. This prevents accidental elevation of the cot, as when it is in the down position'and the attendants lift vit'into the ambulance. If it were not locked, the weight ofthe undercarriage would tend to expand the cross-forming frame members as the cot is lifted.

As an added V-safety precaution, I may provide a secondary locking means in the form of teeth 49 (best seen in Figure 2) which form the upper surface of the elongated slots in bracket members 40 and 41. The teeth 49 may be pitched in much the same manner as the teeth 45, although they do ,not necessarily have to be undercut, and they will beso positioned that their lower edges will normally contact the rod 38 yin the manner illustrated in Figure 6. When any weight is placed on the cot Vframe, the rod 38 will be automatically urged into locking engagement between adjacent teeth, thereby providing'a positivelock for the upper ends of the crossforming frame members. Thus, should lfor any reason the ratchet arms `42 and 43 be accidentally disengaged, the weight of the patient on 'theucot frame will hold the teeth 49 in Vpositive contact with .the frame member 38, thereby preventing the `cot from collapsing. Yet when the cot frame is raised slightly, i.e. the -weight of the patient assumed by the attendants, the teeth 49 will be automatically released from engagement with frame member 38 yandthe-cot may be ra-ised or lowered as desired. l In Figures 7 and 8, I have .illustrated a modied embodiment of :the invention wherein elevation of the cot is controlled by a locking device lying immediately beneath the cot frame 1. This device comprises a yoke 50 pivotally mountedron the rod 6, the yoke in turn being securedv tov oneend of an elongated locking bar 51, preferably formed from aluminum, and twisted through substantially intermediate its ends so as to provide a vertically disposed portion in engagement with the yoke 50 and a horizontally disposed portion extending through atting 52 mounted on rod 38a which interconnects the upper ends of cross-forming frame members 11a and 12d. The outer ends ofthe -rod 38a engage the elongated slots 39 of the brackets 40 and 41.

The fitting 52 has Va passageway 53 extending therethrough in which the locking bar'is received, there being a vertically disposed dowel pin 54 in the opening for selective engagement With the notches or teeth 55 formed in the locking bar. A spr-ing'56 is conveniently arranged to urge the notches in the locking bar into engagement with the dowel. Preferably, the notches 5S will be undercut in much the same manner as the teeth 45, thereby necessitating the slight raising of the cot frame before the locking bar can be moved laterally to release the crossforming frame members for movement. Lateral displacement of the locking bar is eiected bymeans of the loop-like release members 57 and 58 positioned to be readily grasped by the cot attendant either at the foot of the cot or along one side thereof.

The embodiment just described operates in essentially the same manner as the embodiment of'Figures l through 6 in that, as the cot is lowered, the lower ends of the cross-forming frame members 11 and 12 will move outwardly Vwith the extensible portion of the undercarriage, and the frame members will 'be 4locked in the desired position by means of the locking bar 51.

I haveV found it desirable, where the locking bar arrangement just described is employed, to reinforce the crossforming frame members 11, 11a and 12, 12a, by means of tubular sleeves 59 which surround the cross-forming members inthe area of :their pivotal connection to each frame-rmem'berzfrom theundercutoftheteeth, where- 75 other, such 4pivotal connection .be/ingrat .the points 116 v and 126. I have also found it desirable to connect the pivot points 116 and 126 by means of a reinforcing crossbar 60, thereby lending further rigidityvto-the structure.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the cot may have a wide range of levels, depending upon the number of teeth or notches provided in the lock-ing members. In a preferred embodiment now in commercial production, the locking device is provided with a series of 8 teeth which provides for 6 Ilevel-s of adjustment intermediate the down and up positions. These intermediate positions make patient transfer from home bed, couch or the like much easier.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having, however, disolosedmy invention in several exemplary embodiments, what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination in an elevating cot, an elongated cot frame, an undercarriage comprising a generally rectangular frame of fixed length having caster wheels fixedly mounted thereto, said undercarriage being of lesser length thansaid cot frame and having an adjustable extension at one end thereof movable lengthwise of said rectangular frame so as to effectively increase the length of said .undercarriage without altering its wheelbase, coacting cross-forming frame members extending between said cot frame and said undercarriage, said cross-forming frame members being pivotally secured together intermediate their ends so that their corresponding upper and lower ends may be moved toward and away from each other, means securing the upper ends of said cross-forming frame members to said cot frame with one of said ends free for movement lengthwise of said cot frame, means securing the lower ends of said cross-forming frame members to said undercarriage with one of said ends secured to said adjustable extension, and locking means for effectively securing said cross-forming frame members in a plurality of predetermined positions.

2. In combination in an elevating cot, an elongated cot frame, an undercarriage comprising a generally rectangular frame of fixed length having caster wheels iixedly secured thereto, said undercarriage being of lesser length than said cot frame and having an adjustable extension at one end thereof movable relative to said rectangular frame so as to effectively increase the length of said undercarriage without altering its wheelbase, coacting cross-forming frame members extending between said cot frame and said undercarriage, said cross-forming frame members being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends so that their corresponding upper and lower ends may be' moved toward and away from each other, means securing the upper ends of said cross-forming frame members to said cot frame, said means including bracket means having longitudinal slots therein extending lengthwise of said cot frame to permit adjusting movement of said cross-forming frame members relative to each other, means securing the lower ends of said cross-forming frame members to said undercarriage with one of said members secured to said adjustable extension, and locking means for securing said cross-forming frame members in a plurality of predetermined positions.

3. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means extends between the upper ends of said cross-forming frame members and includes an elongated locking bar fixedly secured relative to one of said crossforming frame members and movable relative to another of said cross-forming frame members.

4. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means extend between the generally rectangular frame of said undercarriage and the said adjustable extension.

5. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises ratchet means pivotally connected to said adjustable extension, said ratchet means having teeth selectively engageable with a tooth-engaging member forming a part of said rectangular frame.

decideva 6. The fstructure claimed in claim 5 wherein said ratchet means is normally biased into engagement with the tooth; engaging member of said rectangularframe, and wherein attendant actuated release means are provided to disengage said ratchet means. Y f

7. In combination in an elevating cot, an elongated cot frame, an undercarriage comprising a generally rectangular frame of fixed length having caster wheelsfixedly mounted thereon, said undercarriage being of lesser length than said cot frame and'having an adjustable extension at one end thereof movable relative to said rectangular frame so as to leffectively increase the length of said undercarriage without altering its wheelbase, coacting cross` forming frame members extending between said cot frame and said undercarriage, said cross-forming frame members being pivotally connected together so that their upper and lower ends may be moved toward and away from each other, corresponding upper and lower ends of said cross-forming frame members being pivotally secured to one end of said cot frame and to the end of said undercarriage remote from said adjustable extension, means mounting the remaining upper and lower ends of said cross-forming frame members to the opposite end of said cot frame and to the adjustable extension of said undercarriage, respectively, the-means at the last named end of said cot frame comprising bracket members extending lengthwise of said cot frame and having elongated slots therein, and locking means for securing the last named ends of said cross-forming frame members in adjusted position.

8. The structure claimed in claim 7 wherein said locking means comprises an elongated locking bar fixedly secured at one end to said cot frame and adjustably secured to the ends of the frame members which are in engagement with said bracket means.

9. An elevating cot comprising, in combination, an elongated cot frame, an undercarriage having a generally rectangular frame of fixed length with caster wheels at the corners thereof, said undercarriage being of lesser length than said cot frame and having an adjustable extension at one end thereof movable relative to said rectangular frame so as to effectively increase the length of said undercarriage without altering its wheelbase, coacting pairs of frame members pivoted together intermediate their ends extending between said cot frame and said undercarriage, fittings securing the upper ends of corresponding frame members in each pair of said cot frame toward one end thereof, bracket means adjustably securing the upper end of the remaining frame members. in each pair toward the opposite end of said cot frame, fittings securing the lower ends of said last named frame members to the end of said undercarriage opposite said adjustable extension, fittings securing che lower ends of said first-named frame members to said adjustable extension, and locking means for securing said pairs of crossforming frame members in a plurality of predetermined fixed positions.

10. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said locking means comprises an elongated locking bar effectively secured at one end to the upper ends of the crossforrning frame members secured to the first-named end of said cot frame, the opposite end of said locking bar being received in a fitting fixedly secured between the upper ends of the cross-forming frame members at the opposite end of said cot frame, said bar having a plurality of notches extending lengthwise thereof selectively engageable with an obstruction forming part of said fitting, spring means biasing the notches in said bar in the direction of said obstruction, and attendant actuatable means for disengaging said locking bar when it is desired to raise or lower said cot frame relative to said undercarriage.

1l. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said locking means comprises ratchet arms pivotally secured to said adjustable extension, said ratchet arms having teethengageablejwith a tooth engaging member forming, a part of.` the rectangular frame of said undercarriage.

12. The structure, claimed in,V claim 11 wherein the teeth of said ratchet arms are. pitched in one direction and positioned so that said teeth will ride. over said tooth engaging memuberfwhen, said adjustable extension is moved inwardly toward the fixed ytrame of saidunnder-r carriage but will engage said tooth engaging member when ,sa-id adjustable extension is moved in the opposite direction.`

13. An elevating cot comprising in combination, an elongated generally rectangular cot frame Aof fixed length, a generally rectangularundercarriage, of xed lengthfpovsitioned beneathsaid cotframe,lsaid undercarriagebeingY of 1esser= length than said cotv frame and havingfcaster-k wheels at thel corners thereof, coacting pairs of frame members pivoted intermediate their, ends extending between sad cot frame and said; undercarriage,V said undercarriage having-a telescoping extension at one end thereof,- means securing the lower end of one of the crossfrarne. members in each pair of said extension, means securing the upper ends of said last named members to said cot frame, means securing the lower end of thev remaining cross-forming frame member in each pairy to the opposite end of said undercarriage, bracket means mounting the, upper ends of said last named frame members to. said cotgframe forV movement lengthwise thereof,

and. locking means for maintaining the. extension` of saidA undercarriagein predetermined xed position.

14. The. structure claimed in claim 1-3 wherein said locking means comprises ratchet means havinga pluralityvof teeth selectively engageable with a coacting tooth-4 engaging member So asv to establish a predetermined elevationv for said cot frame.

References Cited in the file oi this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i i i 

